There is never a shortage of cultural attractions and things-to-do in Houston. Stay in the know with the best events H-Town has to offer this weekend and you’ll never have a dull moment in the... Read more

Who: Houston First Corporation (HFC) is spearheading a project that will transform a series of bridges connecting Downtown and Midtown with EaDo and Third Ward into dynamic mosaics. To make the Houston Bridges Project a reality, HFC partnered with a consortium including Scenic Houston, TxDOT, HISD, the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, SWA Group, Sparq 1200 and Rice Professor/Author Geoff Winningham.

What: The Houston Bridges Project will use photographs of the city taken by local schoolchildren to create pixelated mosaics on eight bridges over I-69 between Bell and Tuam streets. The photographs were taken as part of a project developed by Geoff Winningham and his wife Janice Freeman to showcase the vision and artistic skill of Houston youth. The images are included in a new book titled “In the Eyes of Our Children: Houston an American City.”

The work of 16 students—one on each side of the eight bridges—will be digitally pixelated and then transferred onto acrylic panels. Those panels will then be woven into the existing safety fencing that lines the bridge walkways.

Why: As part of its mission to enhance the quality of life of Houstonians and elevate the city as a destination, Houston First initiated an effort to examine how the aesthetics of key transportation corridors could be improved. Following a request for qualifications, the organization coordinated a design competition in May of 2016 and selected a proposal from SWA Group to incorporate art into the bridges. While this is a pilot program for an initiative that could grow larger, these bridges in particular were chosen because they connect vital parts of the city—literally bridging Downtown and Midtown with historically underserved communities to the east and celebrating Houston’s rich diversity. As projects such as the redevelopment of Third Ward’s Emancipation Park are completed, this artwork will serve as a welcoming element to some of the city’s most vibrant neighborhoods.

When: The installation will take place over the course of six weeks starting in mid-April.A press event celebrating the completion with additional details and interview opportunities will be announced in the next couple of weeks.

Photo/Video: Installations are being carried out over the next few weeks.

Interviews: Project managers available for interviews include: Roksan Okan-Vick, senior vice president for product development at Houston First; Natalia Beard, principal at SWA Group. More interview opportunities will be available at the upcoming press event.